Buying a personal PAPR

Many healthcare workers have indicated a strong desure to purchase their own personal PAPRS.  It is definitely possible.  Some have already done so locally by purchasing either the CleanSpace HALO, or its close cousin, the CleanSpace2.  If you become aware of sources of other PAPR makes that are in-stock and available for individuals to purchase, please share them so that they can be added to this page.

Considerations for which one to buy include the following:

The HALO model is intended for healthcare use, because it has all-plastic, cleanable outer surfaces for appropriate disinfection with hospital wipes.  It has a bit more power than the CleanSpace2 to allow it to connect to a full face mask if purchased, which provides more coverage than the half-masks we are using with our separate eye protection.  It may have a much longer backorder time (possibly 8 to 12 weeks) due to very high demand presently.  It's also a few hundred dollars more expensive than the CleanSpace2.  The manufacturer had recently put some restrictions on sending these only to healthcare facilities, not individuals.  Such restrictions may or may not still be in place.

CleanSpace2 uses the exact same HEPA filter and is structurally similar to the HALO, except that it's black.  It has some fabric around where it touches the user's head (Velcro and fabric head straps, possibly with a plastic head harness available as a separate item), so that makes it less cleanable at the points where it touches the user, but it could also be covered with a bouffant cap during care to reduce concerns of cross contamination.  Since it is intended for industrial use, they say the warranty is void if they know it is used for healthcare.  It may or may not have quicker availability at any given time.  Some people have gotten them within days of ordering, but that was because the reseller that was used at the time had immediate access to some inventory, so you would need to ask about current availability.

Note that the half-masks for the HALO have a different connector that is not compatible with the CleanSpace2, so be sure to buy a mask or masks specifically for the model you select.  Also, these PAPRs filter air for the wearer to breath, but the exhaled breaths are unfiltered; so, it is not appropriate to walk around the hospital wearing a PAPR instead of a facemask for universal source control, our current requirement to protect each other by masking ourselves.  If you choose to invest in a personal PAPR, it is appropriate to wear it for patient encounters.

Two known sources for CleanSpace PAPRS include:

• The manufacturer directly at: https://cleanspacetechnology.com/  They seem to be a little overwhelmed right now.

• An LA-area reseller that some MCH staff have used called ICON.  They can be reached at: